French
Championships in ChartresIt could have been a memorable husband-and-wife victory, except they are no longer married. Joel Lautier, one of France's two top GMs, and Almira Skripchenko, former Moldova and now French player, won the men's and women's section of the French Championships, which were held from August 15–26 in Chartres, France.
Joel and Almira were married but separated amicably a few years ago. Both won their sections alone, half a point ahead of the field. Joel Lautier scored 7.5/11 with a 2682 performance, Almira Skripchenko had 9/11 and a 2487 performance on the final table. Joel had five wins and a loss, Almira seven wins and no losses.
France's youngest star, 14-year-old Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, tied for second (with Andrei Sokolov) with 7.0/9 and a single loss in this tournament. His performance was 2660, which was 133 points above his nominal rating. Former French women's champion Sophie Milliet, WGM and 21 years old, came second to Almira Skripchenko with 8.5/11 and a 2449 performance.
A key game between Joel Lautier and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (it was a draw)
Sabine Fruteau and Almira Skripchenko studying bulletins before their game
The tournament nears its end, the last games will soon be over
French women's champion Almira Skripchenko in her Paris apartment
French champion 2005 Joel Lautier, president of the ACP
Second to Lautier: GM Andrei Sokolov
Exhaustion at the end of a long and difficult tournament
